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Carlo Ancelotti tells Monday’s Liverpool Echo of his gratitude to Director of Football Marcel Brands for his role in bringing Abdoulaye Doucoure to the Club last summer. 

The article claims Ancelotti was keen to add “energy” to his midfield and Brands suggested a move for Doucoure - a player the Dutchman had reportedly been trying to prise from Watford for more than two years. 

"When we started to talk about the transfer window, Doucoure was on the list of the Club," Ancelotti explained. 

"He was not on my list, but we talked together and we both agreed to sign him.

"I think it was, after six months, a really fantastic signing because Doucoure is playing really well."

Ancelotti also tells the Echo and the Daily Telegraph about his close working relationship with Everton’s majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri. 

Saturday marked five years since Mr Moshiri’s initial investment in the Club - an anniversary the Telegraph said came at the end of “arguably the most satisfying week of [Mr Moshiri’s] reign”.

The Blues defeated Liverpool at Anfield for the first time since 1999, received unanimous approval of their stadium plans from Liverpool City Council and tied down left-back Lucas Digne to a new long-term contract. 

“He is the kind of owner who wants to know about the team but he doesn't put pressure on me,” said Ancelotti.

“I have a good relationship with him. We talk a lot. Of course with this pandemic we didn't have the possibility to meet each other but on the phone we talk before and after games.

"He is really involved and he wants to know what is happening here at Finch Farm. He is really focused, really passionate and - in this moment - he is really happy.”

Finally, Football Insider claims a recruitment source has told them Everton are monitoring 19-year-old Slavia Prague starlet Abdallah Sima.

Senegalese forward Sima has scored 15 goals in 22 matches for the Czech champions this term, four of which have come in the Europa League.